Convertible bowling pin spotting machine



March 7, 1961 M. PATTERSON CONVERTIBLE BOWLING PIN SPOTTING MACHINEOriginal Filed Feb. 3, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR MOREHEAD PATTERSONdilza ATTORNEY March 7, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR MOREHEADPATTERSON ATTO'RN March 7, 1961 M. PATTERSON 2,973,963

CONVERTIBLE BOWLING PIN SPOTTING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 3, 1950 4Sheets-Sheet 5 BY M A TTO RN EY March 7, 1961 M. PATTERSON CONVERTIBLEBOWLING PIN SPOTTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Feb. 3,1950 INVENTOR MOREHEAD PATTERSON BY We ATTO R mom Xm Q E U of the game.

available sets of each type of pin.

United States Patent CONVERTIBLE BOWLING PIN SPOTTING MACHINE MoreheadPatterson, New York, N.Y., assignor to American Machine & FoundryCompany, a corporation of New Jersey Original application Feb. 3, 1950,Ser. No. 142,183,

now Patent No. 2,743,927, dated May 1, 1956. Divided and thisapplication June 27, 1955, Ser. No.

Claims. (Cl. 273-43) This invention relates to bowling pin spottingmachines, and more particularly to improvements in such machines whichmake it possible for a bowling pin spotting machine to handle and spotmore than one type of bowling pin, such as tenpins, duckpins and thelike, in order to meet the requirements of bowlers as desired.

This application is a division of my co-pending application S.N.142,183, filed February 3, 1950, for Convertible Bowling Pin SpottingMachine, now Patent 2,743,927 granted May 1, 1956.

In bowling alleys as a general rule, the game played may be tenpins orkingpins in which large pins approximately fifteen (15) inches in lengthare spotted and respotted upon the bowling alley for playing each frameIt so happens that occasionally bowlers may desire to play the game ofduckpins in which much smaller pins, approximately nine and one-half (9/2) inches long are used.

In bowling alleys where pins are set manually, the change from one typeand size of pin, say tenpins, to duckpins and vice versa, presents noproblem. All that is necessary is for a bowling alley proprietor to haveWhen a customer asks to play a certain type of game the proprietor needonly instruct his pin boy to set up the type of pin requested by thecustomer.

A much different situation and a serious problem is presented when abowling establishment is equipped with pin spotting machines. This isbecause pin spotting machines heretofore known can handle only a singletype of bowling pin and all the operations of the machine are directedtowards the proper handling, distribution, spotting and/ or respottingof the one type of pin on a bowling alley during the play of a game.Therefore, if a bowler makes known to the proprietor of a bowling alleyin which the game of tenpins is rolled that he wishes to play duckpins,the proprietor is confronted with loss of his business and patronageunless he is able to grant this request. In fact, in machines developedthus far in the art, as far as is known to applicant, a proprietor inall probability would be unable to satisfy his customer because ofdifficulties incident to manual spotting and respotting.

The present invention constitutes a solution of the problem of spottingand respotting different types of bowling pins, such as tenpins andduckpins, with the same machine by providing it with selectiveadjustments whereby it can be rapidly and readily converted fromhandling and spotting tenpins to perform the same operations equallywell with duckpins and vice versa.

it is an object of this invention therefore to provide a novel bowlingpin spotting machine which can be readily converted to handle and spotdifferent types of It is a further object of my invention to provide anovel bowling pin spotting machine having pin handling, spotting andrespotting mechanisms which can be adjusted selectively in order to makethese mechanisms readily' available for handling and spotting differenttypes of bowling pins such as tenpins, duckpins or candle-pins, in orderthat a bowling alley on which the machine is lo- .cated, can be used forplaying the game of tenpins, or

duckpins, or candle-pins in accordance with the wishes of a bowler.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, theinvention consists in certain combinations and constructions which willbe hereinafter fully dc.- scribed, and then set \forth in the claimshereunto ap pended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification,and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or likeparts:

Fig. l is a sectional side elevation disclosing a bowling pin spottingmachine embodying the invention taken on line 1--1 of Figure 3;

Fig. 2 is a partial plan View of the pin spotting table and its guidingmechanism;

Fig. 3 is a sectional front elevation of a bowling pin spotting machineembodying the invention, taken on line 33 of Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional side elevation of the upper portion of thepin magazine, illustrating the selective adjusting mechanisms foraccommodating tenpins as Well a as other types of pins, such asduckpins;

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the pin spotting machine .se-'

lected for purposes of illustration showing the drive for the selectiveadjusting mechanisms, and

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram illustrating a suitable electrical controlmechanism to effect a change-over from one type of bowling pins, such astenpins to another type of bowling pins, such as duckpins, or viceversa, as desired.

.T he convertible bowling pin spotting machine embodying my inventionand selected for purposes of illustration may be of the same generaltype as disclosed in Wells.

a pin magazine M, a pin spotting and respotting table I T, an alleysweep S and a pit sweep PS. Within the magazine M are arranged a pinconveyor C, an. ad-

justable triangularizing pin rack R, a ball lift L and a ball elevatorE.

MagazineM consists of an upright generally rectangular housing or frame20 which at each or" its four corners carries a suitably mounted stud22. Loosely mounted on each stud 22 is a pair of spaced sprockets 24 onwhich run two spaced endless chains 26 connected transversely alongtheir lengths by suitably spaced bars 28, and driven by spaced sprockets30 mounted on a shaft 32 projecting from the housing of a conventionalgear reduction motor 34 suitably mounted within the housing 20.

A number of pivotally mounted cradles or flights 36 are i equidistantlyspaced along chains 26. Flights 36 convey bowling pins from a lower pinreceiving chamber F (Fig. 3) into which pins are pushed from pit Pby'pit Patented Mar. .7, 196 1 sweep PS to triangularizing or racksection R, from which the pins project with their heads in a forwarddirection towards the approaching transfer or spotting and respottingtable T.

The mechanism for conveying pins from pit P, and for positioning ororienting pins for proper delivery into rack R may be the same asdisclosed in the above referred to Wells patent, and need not bedescribed in detail herein.

All pins are carried upward by flights 36 of pin conveyor C which, uponreaching the top edge of pin rack housing 62, turns and moves in ahorizontal direction, thereby causing flights 36 to assume a substantialvertical position and push or roll pins engaged thereby along the topedges of plates 84 and 86. The flights 36 during their vertical andhorizontal movements are always held in proper position by means ofsuitable guide rails 126 engaging with rollers 40 carried by guide shoes38 of flights 36.

Stations 1 to in the pin rack R are arranged in the same manner andconform with the same pattern in which pins are spotted on a bowlingalley bed, i.e. station 1 corresponds with pin 1 on the alley; stations2 and 3 correspond with pins 2 and 3, etc. After passing over the top ofpin rack R, pin conveyor C makes a turn and moves vertically downward asindicated by arrow in Figure 3. To save space and ready flights 36 to apin receiving position when they arrive at the bottom of housing 20,flights 36, upon leaving the top portion of housing 20, are moved orswung about their pivots from a vertical hanging position to a positionwhere, in conjunction with bars 28 and chains 26, they form an almostflat conveyor band. The position of flights or cradles 36 is changed bymeans of stud 128 secured to the rear wall of housing and protrudinginto the path of the cradles at the upper left turning corner of theconveyor chains 26 as viewed in Figure 3. After flights 36 have beenturned, rollers 40 on guide shoes 38 of each flight engage with avertical guide rail 126. Another stud 130 secured to the rear wall ofhousing 20 and protruding into the path of cradles 36 at the lower leftturning corner of conveyor chains 26, as viewed in Figure 3, assists inguiding the cradles into proper position before moving in asubstantially horizontal arrangement through the pin receiving chamberF.

Forming a part of the bowling pin spotting machine described herewithand embodying the invention is a pin spotting mechanism or tabledesignated generally T (Figures 2 and 3). This mechanism is used for thepurpose of transferring triangularly arranged pins from triangularizingrack R to alley A and spotting pins transferred thereon in playingposition on alley A. As shown in Figure 1, table T consists of asuitable housing 132 in which are rigidly mounted ten triangularlyarranged pin transfer and spotting units designated generally 134. Thetriangular arrangement of units 134 corresponds with the triangulararrangement of pins in rack R and the spotted positions to be occupiedby pins on alley A.

In view of the fact that the several units 134 are identical inconstruction and operation, a description of one unit is deemedsuflicient for all. Each unit 134 in the embodiment selected for purpoesof illustration, includes a housing or cylinder 135 in which arepivotally mounted a plurality of gripper arms 136. As shown in Figure 1,there are two pairs of opposed gripper arms 136 in each unit 134. Aspring 137 connected to each pair of opposed gripper arms tends to urgethem into open or non gripping relationship. At one end of each gripperarm is mounted a cam follower 139 adapted to be engaged at the propertime by a cone shaped gripper actuating member or cam 138 secured to oneend of rod 140 (Figure l) suitably supported for axial movement in asleeve or hub 142 mounted on or formed integrally with cover plate 144which may be an integral part of cylinder ing or sleeve 146 secured toplate 148 which at several suitable points engages with a number ofthreaded spindles 150, the ends of which are supported in bearings ofsuitable ribs or plates which may be an integral part of table housing132. Rod also carries a spring 152 which is confined between a collar154 secured thereto and sleeve 146. A collar 156 at the end of rod 140acts as a retainer for rod 140, thus providing yieldable spring power togripper actuating member 138 which assures a firm grip of gripper arms136 and allows for variation in the size of the necks of pins when beingextracted from the pin rack R by said gripper arms. In this manner,proper handling and spotting of different types of pins, such as tenpinsand duckpins, is insured.

Mounted on one end of each of the several spindles is a sprocket 158,each connected by a chain 160 to a sprocket 162 mounted on a shaft 164protruding from a suitable reversible gear reduction motor 166 suitablysecured to a stationary rib or plate 168 within the housing 132. It willbe readily understood that the turning of spindles 150 by motor 166causes plate 148 to move towards or away from cylinder cover plates 144.This operation moves each cone-shaped gripper operating member 133 onrod 140 in each unit 134 towards or away from the ends of its respectivegripper arms 136, thereby effecting a gripping or releasing action ofgripper arms 136 in each unit 134.

Table T, at each side, is provided with two studs 170, 172, bothprotruding from housing 132. Each stud 170 carries a roller 174 runningin a cam track 176 (Figure 1) formed in a vertical cam plate 178. Thetwo cam plates 178 are mounted upright adjacent the two sides of table Tand are secured to U-shaped channels 180 attached to the inside upperportion of the kickbacks of bowling alley A. Each stud 172 carries a camroller 182 engaging and running in a cam track 184 also formed invertical cam plate 178. Each stud 170 also engages with a slot 186 inthe free end of a table actuating arm 188. These arms are looselymounted on studs 190 held by suitable blocks 192 secured to the topsurface or" chan nels 180.

Each arm 188 is provided with a gear sector 194 (Figure 1) which engageswith gear 196 mounted on a shaft 193 projecting from a suitablereversible gear reduction motor 200. Each of these motors is mounted onblock 192 fixed to a channel 130. The rotation of shafts 198 eitherclockwise or counterclockwise by their respective motors causes gearsectors 194 and arms 133 to move upwardly or downwardly, respectively,and move table T away from or towards the pin supporting bed of alley A.Since the triangularized pins in pin rack section R are arranged in ahorizontal position, but have to be placed on the alley in a vertical orupright position, table T in effecting the necessary transfer is turnedninety degrees in moving from rack R to alley A. This is achieved byguide rollers 174 and 182 following tracks 176 and 184, respectively,during the upward and downward movement of table T. After a set oftenpins is extracted from rack R and transferred from the latter toalley A, table T rises from its lowermost pin-spotting position to asuitable dwell position above the alley where it remains until theplayer has thrown a ball.

After a ball is thrown by the player, it rolls from an inclined platform202 in pit P onto a ball lift L (Figures 1, 3 and 4) of suitable designwhich delivers it to a ball return runway 274. The ball lift shownconsists of a rack 204 pivotally attached to a pair of lugs 206 (Figure3) mounted on a suitable frame or rib within magazine M. Rack 204 is soconstructed as to provide an inclined transverse runway which leads intoa delivery cradle 208 secured substantially at right angles to rack 204.Therefore, any ball rolling onto any portion of rack 204 will gravitateto the junction of cradle 208 and rack 204. The latter as well as cradle208 are so constructed as to 135. The other end of rod 140 is supportedin a bush- 75 permit the use of full size bowling balls as well as thesmaller sized ones used in bowling games such as duckpins. Ball lift Lis operated to lift each ball upon its atrival in pit P. Since the balllift does not form a part of the invention, further detailed descriptionthereof is deemed unnecessary. Reference is made to said Wells Patent2,707,636 for a full disclosure of the construction and operation ofball lift L. I

V In order to properly control the action, as well as the timing of thevarious mechanisms during a cycle of' the machine, the latter isprovided with a suitable electrical control system which issubstantially of the same design and construction as that disclosed insaid Wells Patent 2,707,636. However, while the machine disclosed in theabove mentioned patent is constructed for the use of normal tenpinsonly, the machine illustrated in the present application is so designedas to permit not only the use of tenpins TP, but also other types ofpins, such as duckpins DP. These changes are effected by a controlmechanism which operates in response to the pressing of a'control buttonwhich willeffect a conversion from a tenpin bowling pin spotting machineto a duckpin bowling pin spotting machine if duckpins are to be used, orvice versa. For purposes of illustration, it is assumed that the machineis to be converted from handling tenpins to duckpins.

To employ a means which is suitable for conveying both types of pins,flights 36 of pin conveyor C are so designed that the tenpin T P and theduckpin DP rest equally well in a central or in a horizontal position.Each flight is provided with a cut-out 37 which permits the various rearguide bars 66, 67, 74, 76, 80 and 82 to enter when duckpins are conveyedand properly and uniformly orient 'and locate said duckpins on saidflights. When tenpins are conveyed, all of these rear guide bars remainadjacent to the rear edges of the moving flights and also assist inretaining a proper and uniform position of pins on the flights. Whenarriving at said top edges of rack R, all pins are rolled onto and alongplates 84, 86 in the same horizontal position, and plates 84 and 86 arespaced in such a manner that the edge of each plate contacts a portionof the belly of the tenpin of the same diameter, thus assuring properalignment and an even and straight roll of pins pushed over the edges totheir respective triangularized stations.

When plates 86 are moved toward the plates 84 in adjusting the machineto accommodate smaller pins such as duckpins, the same principle isemployed. Plates 84 and 86 are so spaced that the edge of eachplatesupports a portion of the belly of the duckpin of the same diameter. Ahorizontal rear guide rail 67, attached by means of lugs 69 to rearplate 70 of pin rack R, assists the pins in keeping in line on plates84, 86, and prevents rearward movement thereon.

In converting the machine from a'tenpin to a duckpin machine, rail 67,as well as rear plate 70, move the same distance as the plates 86 tokeep the bottoms of the horizontally arranged duckpins aligned in thesame manner. Plates 70 and 86 are secured to a number of threaded lugs96 which in turn engage with horizontal spindles 98. Guide rail 67 ismounted on lugs 69 attached to rear plate 70. Each spindle 98 extendsthrough the rear wall of the magazine housing 20 and carries a sprocket294 on which runs an endless chain 296. The latter also runs on an idlersprocket 298 (Figure .5) and on two sprockets 300 mounted on spindles 56extending through the rear wall of magazine M. Spindles 56 engage withthreaded lugs 54 to which are secured lugs 81 which carry rear wall 52and vertical rear guide rail 80. Rear wall 52 by means of lug 78,supports rear guide rail 76.

Chain 296 also runs on two sprockets 302 mounted on spindles 37protruding through the rear wall of magazine M. Spindles 37 engagethreaded lugs 35 on which is mounted the rear wall 33 of the lowerchamber F. Chain 296 is driven by means of sprocket 304 which may bedriven clockwise or counter-clockwise by a shaft 306 protruding from thehousing of a reversible gear"v reduction motor 308 mounted on a suitablestand 310 within the housing of magazine M.

Since the duckpins DP are considerably shorter than tenpins, the formerdo not project quite as far outwardly from pin rack R and are not quiteas high as tenpins when placed on the bed of alley A. Therefore when themachine is adjusted to handle and spot duckpins, table T must movecloser to rack R when-extracting duckpins, and nearer alley A whenspotting such pins. In adjusting the machine to obtain these results,reversible reduction motors 200, which actuate the table, are controlledby either a tenpin control cam 312 or a duckpin control cam 314 (Figure6). Both cams312 and 314 are mounted on a shaft 316 protruding from thehousing of a suitable gear reduction motor 318 which in turn is controlled by a suitable electrical control system (not shown) in order toproperly time the various other mechanisms in the machine. Theelectrical control system maybe similar to that shown and described inWells Patent 2,707,636. Since the control system for operating theentire machine forms no specific part of this invention, further.showing and description thereof are deemed unnecessary.

In order to convert the machine for handling and spotting differenttypes of pins, such as tenpins or duckpins, a control of the type shownin Figure 6 is provided. if it is desired to set the machine for tenpinoperation,

. the attendant pushes a button 320 of a two-button walking beam switch322 which permits current to fiow through a normally closed switch 324,a closed contact 326 on button 328 of walking beam switch 322 to doublethrow switch 330 which is actuated by tenpin control earn 312, thusproviding the necessary control means for table motors 200, giving tableT the movement re quired for tenpin operation. The machine is sodesigned that while it is handling and spotting tenpins, all rear guiderails 80, 76, 74, 66 and 67, as well as rear plates 33, 52 and 70, arein their outermost positions. When plate 70 is so positioned, it holds anormally closed switch 334 open as shown in Figure 6. Switches 324 and334 are normally closed switches, the latter being mounted on the insideof rear wallhousing 20 of magazine M and actuated or held open when rearplate 70 is in its outermost or tenpin position. Switch 324 is mountedon the rear side of stationary front plate 84 and is depressed andopened when movable plate 86 moves forward to foremost or duckpinposition. All operations of the various mechanisms are controlled andtimed through the electrical control system of the machine as shown inWells Patent 2,707,636, with the exception of the ball elevator which,according to the present disclosure, is set in motion when a ball leavescradle 208 of ball lift L, and depresses a normally open switch 270which causes the same to close and energize relay 332 which causes aclosing of its contacts 332a and 332A, Closed contact 332a and contact332k serve as hold-ins for relay 332. Closed contact 332b in conjunctionwith normally closed switch' 276, permits current to flow through andstart ball elevator motor 268. When lug 275 on chain 248 passes normallyclosed switch 276, the latter is opened momentarily causing aninterruption of flow of current through the hold-in contact 332a. Thiseffects a de-energization of relay 332 and consequently an opening ofcontacts 332b, which results in the stopping of ball elevator motor 268.

When changing the machine from tenpin to duckpin operation, theattendant depresses button 328. This permits current to flow throughnormally closed switch 324, through now closed contacts 336, throughmotor 308 and contact 338 which efiects a starting of motor 308 in aclockwise direction. The starting of motor 308 moves also chain 296 andall sprockets connected therewith except sprockets 298 and 304 inclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 5. This causes the turning ofspindles 98, 56 and 37, and effects a forward movement of rear plates70, 33 and 52, as well as the forward movement of all rear guide rails82, 80, 76, 74, 66 and 67. When the plate 86 has moved forward to itsdesired adjusted position, it contacts switch 324 and causes the same toopen, breaking the circuit and stopping motor 308. As rear plate 70moves away from switch 334, the latter closes and current is permittedto flow through now closed contact 340 and a double throw switch 344 totable motors 200. Double throw switch 344 is actuated by duckpin cam314, as described heretofore, and motors 200 are now actuated to movetable T closer to magazine M and the pin supporting bed of alley A, thanwhen the machine is set to handle tenpins in order to suit the duckpinoperations. Table T may also be moved by mechanism similar to that shownand described in said Wells Patent 2,707,636 to and from alley A afterthe throwing of a first ball of a frame in order to lift and respot anystanding pins on said alley pending the delivery of the next ball of thesame frame.

In changing the machine from duckpin back to tenpin operation, button320 is depressed again. This permits current to flow through the nowclosed switch 334, now

closed contact 346, through motor 308 and contacts 348, which starts thereversible gear reduction motor 308 in a counter-clockwise direction asviewed in Figure 5. The chain 296 and all sprockets connected therewith,except sprockets 298 and 304, are also moved in a counter-clockwisedirection, which causes spindles 98, 56 and 37 to move all rear platesand rear guide rails to their outermost or tenpin positions. opensswitch 334, motor 308 stops. Switch 324 at this time is not engaged byplates 86 and is closed, permitting current to flow to the double throwswitch 330 which is actuated by the tenpin table control cam 312, andthe machine is again ready for tenpin operation.

The invention above described may be varied in construction within thescope of the claims, for the particular device, selected to illustratethe invention, is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of thesame. It is not, therefore, to be restricted to the precise details ofthe structure shown and described.

What I claim is:

1. In a bowling pin-spotting machine having a pinsetting frame mountedabove the bed of a bowling alley for movement toward and away therefrom,apparatus for adapting said machine for selective use with pins of morethan one length, comprising pin-holding means on said frame for grippingthe handle end of each of a set of pins and means for adjusting theextent of movement of said frame toward said bed in accordance with thelength of the pins.

2. In a bowling pin-spotting machine for selective use of pins of morethan one length, a pin-setting frame, means mounting said frame above asubstantially horizontal surface for movement toward and away therefrom,means mounted in said frame for holding a set of pins for delivery tosaid surface with said pins projecting outwardly of said frame an amountdepending upon As rear plate 70 contacts and the length of the pinsselected, and means for adjusting the extent of movement of said frametoward said surface in accordance with the length of said pins.

3. In a bowling pin-spotting machine for selective use with pins of morethan one length, a pin-setting frame, means mounting said frame above asubstantially horizontal surface for movement toward and away therefrom,a plurality of pin-holding units mounted in substantially triangularpin-playing array on said frame, each of said units being adapted toreleasably grap the handle end of a bowling pin for placement andreplacement of said pin on said surface with said pin extendingoutwardly from said frame an amount dependent upon its length, and meansfor controlling the extent of movement of said frame toward and awayfrom said surface in accordance with the length of said pins.

4. In a bowling pin-spotting machine for selective use with pins of morethan one length, a pin-setting frame, means mounting said frame above asubstantially horizontal surface for movement toward and away therefrom,a plurality of pin-holding units mounted in substantially triangularpin-playing array on said frame, each of said units being adapted toreleasably grip the handle end of a selected type of bowling pin forplacement and replace ment of said pin on said surface with said pinextending outwardly of said frame an amount dependent upon its length,mechanism for moving said frame to and from pin delivery position abovesaid surface, and means for stopping the movement of said frame atdifferent operating positions above said surface in accordance with thelength of the selected pins.

5. In a bowling pin-spotting machine for selective use with pins of morethan one length, a pin-setting frame,

means mounting said frame above a substantially horizontal surface formovement toward and away therefrom, a plurality of pin-holding unitsmounted in substantially triangular pin-playing array, each of saidunits containing means for releasably gripping the handle end of aselected type of bowling pin for placement or replacement on saidsurface, said pins extending outwardly from said frame an amountdependent upon their length, means for moving said frame to and from pindelivery position above said surface, means for controlling the extentof movement of said frame toward and away from said surface inaccordance with the length of said pins, and mechanism interconnectedwith said controlling means for substantially simultaneously operatingall of said pinholding means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS809,890 Backus Jan. 9, 1906 930,353 Cofiin Aug. 10, 1909 2,388,708 BatesNov. 13, 1945 2,531,429 Hedenskoog Nov. 28, 1950 2,707,636 Wells May 3,1955 2,743,927 Patterson May 1, 1956

